Obit: Huggins, Julia (1861 - 1944)
Contact:  Lani Bartelt
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Surnames: Huggins, Shortell, Callahan, Burek, Nutter, Dittner, Willner, Mellhatttan, Marter, Griepentrog, Hahan, Plank, LaMarche, Held, Briggs, Peck, BaDour, Beal

----Sources: Marathon County Register Newspaper (Unity, Wis.) March 10,1944

Huggins, Julia (Feb.7, 1861 - 1944)

Mrs. Julia Huggins, aged 83 years, died almost instantly after being struck by a southbound Soo Line fast freight No. 26 at the Clark street crossing in Spencer Saturday afternoon about 4:45 o’clock.

Mrs. Huggins it was reported was on her way from her home to order coal. It was reported that Bob Shortell warned her that a train was coming, but she went onto the tracks and then hesitated just long enough for the engine to hit her. It was reported that Shortell said "Grandma, don't go across, you will get hit." Apparently bewildered the aged woman started forward as soon as he warned her and walked directly into the train, she was thrown by the impact or carried a distance of 53 feet from the crossing and died before Dr. H. T. Callahan arrived on the scene. She suffered a number of broken bones and evidence of internal injuries.

Coroner A. W. Burek and Traffic Officer Jack Nutter investigated the accident and a coroner’s jury was selected and viewed the boy. The jury was composed of Ernest Dittner, William Willner, Russell MeIlhattan, Walter Matter, Fred Griepentrog and Rudy Hahn. It is reported the coroner’s jury will go to Wausau Saturday afternoon at 1:30 for the hearing. Robert Plank, engineer; Wilford LaMarche, fireman; and Arthur Held, head brakeman, all of Stevens Point were in charge of the train.

Mrs. Huggins was born at Roy’s Point New York on Feb. 7,1861 and had been a resident of Spencer for about nine months, haping (having) come from Edgar. She formerly lived at Colby.

Surviving is a son, George of Spencer and two daughters, Mrs. Nellie Briggs of Minneapolis and Mrs. Catherine Peck of Cleveland, Ohio. And also leaves a sister, Mrs. A. J. BaDour of St. Paul, and six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted at the Swarthout Funeral Home at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Ellery J. Beal of the Methodist church in charge.

Burial was made in the Colby Cemetery beside the grave of her husband.